The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-20
The Farmers, AlIlance.

AcKERMAE, Miss, November 30.-Editors
Constitution: Gentlemen-There is q sketch In THA
CONSTITUTION of the 22d inst, relating to the FafE
mars' Alliance on which wish to offer few stricH
The article to which refer will be found unF
der the heading, Through Dixie" The spirit and
tone Of the article we hope are not the sentimenA
OF THE CONSTITUTION, for we feel assured that IT,
editors are staunch friends OF the tolling massey
who feed all other classes But whoever the writeH
may be- he evidently has no sympathy for organizaS
ton outside of his and kindred professionals
For 10, these many years, the poor care-wprn and
downrodden farmer has been casting about flX
means of relief from his taxmasters without
any material benefit but wiseacres i9l
abundance at q safe retreat from the burning midA
summer sun, Or the cutting blasts of mid-wint9f1
have volunteered % give him advice as TO what hei
should do white they themselves roll In the luxqH
res actually produced by their toiiing neghboIj
When the grange spang into being, relief wa&
sought In its folds, but not having experience
enough 70 make it success In the face OF all the
opposton brought 10 bear against 1t by these saniH
wiscaeres, thousands dropped out Of IL with feel1
ing akin 10 despair. As the years rolled by freghte4
with ever increasing burdens, men Of toll all oven
thinking, and who paid between so and gU
per cent OF all the taxes by which the treasury
of the general government teens with Its milliopa
Of absolutely surplus money lying idly in the
vautsl These men, repeat, saw that relief mpst
come or I'M few, brief years very few Of thefW
would own the soil they cultivated. And hence, tx
ifby magic, the various organizations such as the
"Relief OF Mississippi; the Wheel" Of Tepnesse@
The Alliance" of Texas, well as other organzN
tons eseW here sprang into being 10 accomplish BY
concert OF action, what singy and alone, the sonR
Of toll never could DC, i Is no strSpss thing III
there should be dissention in the ranks Nothing
better results from the hlghest counclY
Of the nation. What then? Must they disorganizA
because their meetings not as harmonious az
could be desired, and invite oppression by their isW
lation? We teieye tnat all men should pay theiH
all callings and professions should be selfsustair
ing.
we can get the beet bargains and sell where we cam
get the full value Of our produce If half dozerT
or more merchants in town refuse TO sell at livN
ing rates have we not right to give our trade tX
the man who VIII do so2 We do not propose to nakd
war any man, or set Of men, but simply 70 exetE
else our rights in buying and selling, u at may
share the legitimate profits oftrade equally with thg
trader.
reasonably low rates as the Alliance meHehant,i
there would be no necessity tOseiect such merchant
Our experience here II that in the purchase 0f few
dollars worth Of mcrci andise, we gave enough %
Quadruplc all our expenses in the Alliance FOX
double the time the same has been running here.
But the matter Of dollars aud cents IS not ALL nor
half the benefits accrng from ur social gatheringg
as by the interchange Of thought, arc taught %
Id better farmers, better artisans better citizenE
letter reiVhbors and altogether, to Hi ourselvea
and our postefity 20 higher sphere In life. and u
this end our declaration OF principles are subseryt.
ent
Al other classes and professions may have theft
organizations and secret conclayes, but for tho
fanner 20 attempt such thing howl IS raised IN
certain querefs, and something ike the following
sentiment INDUCED in; you clodhoppers, how daro
yOI make any attempt at organization ana c0Opcra-
tiJug va can take care Of sou as hitberQ." les,
With the same kind Of care that stock raiser takes
care Of his Stockton tie service rendered. Lab0rr
ing men are tired Of this Kind Of care and we feel
proud that gen raj awnk 2ning 10 our interests Is
rapidly taking place, and 70 assert our man-
hood Is the watchWord Professor Maury, III
his physical geography, says; "Ih9 world ~
all times IS IN few eeks Of starvation" and al
men any sngacity know that IL the farming in9
terests slOuld fail generally from any cause whaN
ever al other industries would be paTalyzcd. II -
to The interest Of all classes that the farmer should
prosper and BY the blessings Of Heaven on ouf
hands, aud conquer a peace, that shall be a ricH
heritage 10 our posterity. H. \. DolHoH,
Secretary Mount Airy Alliance.